Florida Report on Legislative Committee Action for Monday 3/24/14 through Thursday 3/27/14

DATE:   March 28, 2014
TO:      USF & NRA Member and Friends
FROM:  Marion P. Hammer
           USF Executive Director
           NRA Past President

The fourth week of the Legislative Session was also productive.  However, on Thursday (3/27/14) the Florida Sheriffs Association, came out publicly in open opposition to Second Amendment rights.

The blue underlined bill numbers are the most current versions of the bills. You can simply click on those links to read the bills.   A new version is prepared every time a bill is amended (changed) in committee.  If there is no blue link that means the newest amended version is not yet available.

On Tuesday, March 25, 2014

SB-1060 PASSED by a vote of 8-0 in the Senate Education Committee.

SB-1060  Zero Tolerance/Pop Tart Bill  by Senator Greg Evers (R-Baker) is a bill to stop some of the unbelievable actions by school administrators against children who behave like children and point fingers at each other pretending to shoot guns, etc.

On Wednesday, March 26, 2014

SB-448  was on third reading on the Senate floor and had to be Temporarily Postponed (TP'd) because the House bill had not yet come over.  This bill should be back up on the Senate floor next Tuesday (4/1/14). 

SB-448 Threat of Force by Senator Greg Evers is a bill to stop abusive prosecutors from using 10-20-LIFE to prosecute people who, in self-defense, threaten to use deadly force against an attacker as a means to stop an attack.

On Thursday, March 20, 2014

HB-209 PASSED by a vote of 17-1 in the House Judiciary Committee

HB-209 Firearms/Mandatory Evacuations  by Representative Heather Fitzenhagen is a bill to protect citizens from being charged with a crime, and having their guns confiscated, for carrying a firearm during a mandatory evacuation ordered by the Governor.

Governor Rick Scott and the Florida National Guard have expressed SUPPORT for this bill.

On the other hand, the Florida Sheriffs Association came out in OPEN OPPOSITION to the bill and declared that:   "In our opinion there is a difference between owning a firearm and carrying one concealed on your person.  Owning a firearm is a right; carrying it concealed is a privilege; and it is a privilege that is earned…”

Despite the Sheriffs' open attack on Second Amendment rights the bill passed 17-1.  All 12 Republicans and 5 of the 6 Democrats on the Committee voted in favor of the bill.

The bill, HB-209, is now ready for the House floor.  The Florida Sheriffs Association made it clear they will continue their attack on this bill and Second Amendment rights. 

To watch the video of the full hearing on HB-209, use the link below and on the time bar at the bottom of the video window go to 1:40:00.

http://thefloridachannel.org/videos/32714-house-judiciary-committee/